Haida Gwaii & Prince Rupert
Haida Gwaii & Prince Rupert
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Haida Gwaii & Prince Rupert
8 Days Starting in Prince Rupert, BC, Canada and ending in Sandspit, BC, Canada
Visiting: Prince Rupert, Haida Gwaii, Ninstints, Skedans, Masset, Naikoon Provincial Park, Tlell, Port Clements
Tour operator:
Tour code:
HAGW
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
8 - 18
Age range:
18-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Meat
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Haida Gwaii is a wild and untouched archipelago on the west coast of British Columbia steeped in the culture of the Haida People dating back over 10,000 years. Discover the culture both past and present as we explore the dramatic landscapes and abundant wildlife of these incredible islands. Visit Haida Gwaii and experience a mystical world of adventure and breathtaking beauty.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive in Prince Rupert, BC
Location: Prince Rupert
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to Prince Rupert, a bustling coastal town and a gateway to British Columbia's pristine north. Our arrival into Prince Rupert airport, located on Digby Island, and the following transfer to the main town, located on Kaien Island, provides an introduction to the lush coastal temperate rainforest environment that we will explore over the following days. Meet your fellow travellers this evening at the welcome dinner and hear your Tour Leader provide detailed guidelines on the program for the coming week. For those arriving early, we strongly recommend a walk to the nearby Museum of Northern British Columbia to learn more of the history of this area.
Day 2 : Prince Rupert, BC
Location: Prince Rupert
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Light Lunch
We discover more of the Great Bear Rainforest Coast today on our full day tour on a catamaran boat to view the wildlife of the area.
In June and July we prepare for a full day of excitement to the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary, part of the Great Bear Rainforest of Northern British Columbia.
On our August and September tours, we board the same boat for a full day of whale watching off the rugged coastline of Northern British Columbia.
On return, there will be some free time explore Cow Bay and the many shops and restaurants along Prince Rupert's pristine waterfront.
Day 3 : Prince Rupert – Haida Gwaii, BC
Location: Prince Rupert, Haida Gwaii
Accommodation: Motel
Accommodation Name: Sea Raven Motel
Meals Included: Breakfast
On board a BC Ferry ship we begin our scenic journey across the Hecate Strait to Islands of Haida Gwaii. Haida Gwaii, meaning "Islands of the People" is an archipelago of over 150 islands with an incredible history surrounding the culture of the Haida People who first inhabited these islands over 10,000 years ago. We sail through the scenic Hecate Straight, named for the HMS Hecate used for surveying these waters in the 1860's. Thousands of years before being named the Hecate Strait, the strait was both a transport route to the mainland land, with its shallow waterways providing a navigational challenge to outsiders, and a source of protection for the Haida people. This afternoon we arrive in Haida Gwaii and travel to our Queen Charlotte City accommodation. Enjoy the evening at leisure to explore this quaint island village.
Day 4 : Excursion to Ninstints (SG̱ang Gwaay Llnagaay) or Skedans (Ḵ'uuna Llnagaay)
Location: Ninstints, Skedans
Accommodation: Motel
Accommodation Name: Sea Raven Motel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
JUNE AND JULY DEPARTURES:
Perhaps one of the highlights of our Haida Gwaii tour will be this day tour to Ninstints or SG̱ang Gwaay Llnagaay, in the Haida language. Located on Anthony Island, the World Heritage Site of Ninstints, allows you walk through the remains of a Haida village and the largest collection of carved totem poles in their original locations. The site is only accessible by water or air, so we will depart early to take a boat ride along the eastern coastline of Haida Gwaii in order to reach the site. On our way, our Haida guides will give us insights into this unique culture through storytelling, songs and talks on local history, Haida heritage and how they protect the land and waters.
AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER DEPARTURES:
Perhaps one of the highlights of our Haida Gwaii tour will be this day tour to the village of Skedans or Ḵ'uuna Llnagaay, in the Haida language. Skedans was a village of 26 to 30 longhouses at its height. Today, the poles which remain and the depressions of several longhouses give you a sense of the former grandeur of the village, splayed out along Skedans Bay. We pass through the Laskeek Bay area, where we visit Ḵay (sea lion) rookeries, explore the shoreline, search for taan (bear) and cruise the seas looking for whales. Along the way, our guides will incorporate a combination of storytelling, songs and/or local history, giving guests a unique glimpse into our heritage.
Day 5 : Masset and the Naikoon Provincial Park, BC
Location: Masset, Naikoon Provincial Park
Accommodation: Motel
Accommodation Name: Sea Raven Motel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We head north to the village of Tlell and the south entrance of the Naikoon Provincial Park. Part of the traditional territory of the Haida people, the park figures prominently in their culture and history and holds many sites of cultural importance as well as historic villages and important traditional food gathering locations throughout the park. A walk along the East Beach Trail is a great experience. We strongly suggest bringing a pair of binoculars and your camera and reading up in advance about the natural and human history of Haida Gwaii before you start to gain an in-depth knowledge and appreciation of the landscape you are travelling through.
We will then drive to the village of Masset located at the entrance to the Masset Inlet, an important centre for sport fishing. 10 km east of Masset is an easily walkable boardwalk trail that allows access to a blowhole as well as to Tow Hill, both important landmarks in Naikoon Provincial Park. Our stop today is a visit to the magnificent Haida Heritage Centre. The Haida Gwaii Museum is a magnificent showcase of the Haida People, culture and way of life, highlighting the traditions of all fourteen Haida Clans. With an interpreter of the museum we enjoy an interpretive tour of the facility followed by time to experience the exhibits at leisure.
Day 6 : Port Clements and Tlell, BC
Location: Tlell, Port Clements
Accommodation: Motel
Accommodation Name: Sea Raven Motel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Travelling a short distance to Port Clements, an active forestry area, we visit the Port Clements Museum and learn about the past conditions of the forest industry in Haida Gwaii. Nearby is a short, easy hike from the museum to the Golden Spruce Trail. The trail is named after the Golden Sitka Spruce that grew at the end of the trail for nearly 300 years and had a mutation causing the spruce to grow needles of a golden yellow colour. The tree was cut down by a by a protester in 1997 leading to a Canada-wide outcry. A sapling was saved when the original tree grew and had been nurtured and grown at the Port Clements Memorial Park which we will visit after our walk along the trail.
We also explore Tlell, home to a variety of local artisans and take time at leisure to visit their shops and learn of their craft first hand. Our day concludes with visiting St. Mary's Spring where, if desired you can taste the fresh spring water which, according a to local lore, a drink from the well will bring you back to Haida Gwaii later in life. Finally, we visit Balance Rock, a remnant of the Ice Age that looks precariously posed on the coast, but is in fact, firmly in place and immovable.
Day 7 : Haida Gwaii Your Style
Location: Haida Gwaii
Accommodation: Motel
Accommodation Name: Sea Raven Motel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today is a free day in Haida Gwaii to spend however you choose. Explore cultural experiences, boat excursions, a flight seeing tour over the islands, or simply enjoy nature and the town sights (own expense). Tonight we’ll gather for a farewell dinner together and enjoy a Haida feast.
Day 8 : Depart from Sandspit, BC
Location: Sandspit Airport
Meals Included: Breakfast
We bid farewell to Haida Gwaii as we board a transfer to Sandspit Airport to begin the journey home.
What's Included
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Accommodation
3.5-4 star hotels
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Entrance Fees
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Fully Guided
Professional full-time Tour Leader, expert local step-on-guide on Days 5 and 6
What's Not Included
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International Travel
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Tipping and Gratuities
For Tour Leader and Drivers
Check out our Q&As
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
For those willing to share with a co-traveller of the same gender, we have a Twin Share option that is offered for most tours where you share a hotel rooms with another same gender traveller. If we are able to pair you with another single traveler, no Single Supplement payment is charged to you in this case.
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What is the average age of passengers for this tour?
The typical age of travellers on Anderson Vacations tours are between the ages of 50 to 75. We have many younger travellers as well as active older people who often travel with us.
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Can you accommodate passengers with dietary restrictions (food allergies, vegan, vegetarian etc.)?
Yes, but within reason. There are many meals included on our fully escorted tours. Please inform us of any dietary restrictions at the time of booking so we can ensure there are alternative meal choices.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Anderson Vacations has over 25 years' experience in the travel industry operating small group cultural and nature tours to North America, Oceania, and the South Pacific.
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Is it possible to book a triple share accommodation?
Yes, it is possible to book triple share accommodations on select trips. Please inquire about this option, as prices and availability varies from tour to tour.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
No
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Anderson Vacations allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform anderson vacations, 60 days before departure.
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Anderson Vacations requires a minimum deposit of 100 CAD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of anderson vacations charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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